Fallen officer to be buried with K9 partner

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. - Family members are preparing to bury a U.S. Forest Service officer killed in the line of duty. Officer Jason Crisp was shot and killed during a search for a murder suspect Wednesday. There was a procession along Interstate 40 Thursday to pay tribute to the fallen officer.

“He just (was) loved by everybody. I was on the bridge today and I just couldn’t believe all the officers,” Crisp’s aunt Judy Johnson said.

Investigators now believe Crisp was shot at close range. He leaves behind a wife and two kids. Investigators shot and killed Whisnant two hours after they say he shot Crisp.

“If you had a normal day today, you need to be thankful because our family has not had a normal day today,” Johnson said.

The visitation for Crisp will be Sunday at the West Court Baptist Church in Marion from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. His funeral will be held Monday 2 p.m. at McDowell High School and will be open to the public and the media. McDowell County schools will be dismissed at noon.U.S. Forest Service memorial page for Jason Crisp